A Change in Who I Am

I read a brilliant blog last month. The author, Rhonda Walls Dowdy, is a woman with incredible insight. In her blog, Change is Coming (Here is the link: Change is Coming), she remarks, “As humans, we grow and evolve; as we do this, it requires change… Learn to adapt to change, and you have mastered one of life’s best lessons.”

I certainly learned that inevitable change has come my way. Aging is my change. I knew that I was a new member of an old group — the group of those who were lesser. For centuries, many other groups have been long-time members of this group. It could be women who weren’t measured by their skills and understanding but by gender. It could be ethnicities that were measured only by their race. They were all lesser. I hear all the time that this generation is lazy, they don’t have “our” work ethic, and they aren’t loyal. Then I hear from Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt said that she doesn’t see that. She sees her young sailors as disciplined, hard-working, and faithful.

Now, I’m not being permanently relegated to the sideline. Time will handle that. However, I now am not viewed as a good leader, a clever man, or someone with a high EQ. I am merely viewed as old. This has been an excellent lesson for me. As a white male, I had so many unseen advantages. And I’m sure they contributed to my career. Joni Mitchell was right, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…”

So, the point of all this rambling is not woe is me. I know that I will find a new job. The fact is I have learned to change the way I look at those who are different from me in some way. And it’s been a great lesson. Do you want to join me in my new outlook?